Ntungamo District, often referred to by its residents as the First District and the birthplace of Uganda's First Family, has steadily transformed over the past three decades from modest beginnings into a growing administrative and economic hub.
Anchored by coffee production and expanding agribusiness, the district has become a model of local development in western Uganda.
Officially created in July 1993 from parts of Mbarara and Bushenyi districts, Ntungamo originally comprised Ruhaama, Rushenyi, and Kajara counties.
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At inception, the district operated from shared sub-county structures with limited land, infrastructure, and financial resources.
Through graduated taxes and central government support, leaders laid the foundations for permanent administrative buildings, marking the beginning of organized governance.
"During those early days in 1993, Ntungamo operated from sub-county headquarters structures with a sub-county chief's house, a community development officer's house, and a council hall," recalled Grace Twinomugisha, the district's Secretary for Works, Water and Community-Based Services and the first female vice LC5 Chairperson.
"Funds were raised from a graduated tax, including a charge of 5,000 shillings per taxi payer, which, together with government support, was used to construct the district headquarters."
Former LC5 Chairperson John Wicklife Karazarwe and his team later spearheaded the construction of the current administration block, which now houses over 72 offices, strengthening Ntungamo's administrative capacity.
Chief Administrative Officer Fildeus Kizza said the district has steadily improved its national performance ranking, moving from 138th to 28th out of 176 local governments in recent assessments, while also cleaning its payroll to address ghost health facility issues.
In education, Ntungamo has registered significant progress. Four seed secondary schools have been constructed, teacher recruitment has increased, and the teacher-pupil ratio now stands at 37.2.
Health services have also expanded, with facilities upgraded and Itojo Hospital elevated to district referral status.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Ntungamo's economy. Under the Parish Development Model, over 46 billion shillings have been distributed to 129 Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs), benefiting nearly 40,000 households.
Coffee, the district's flagship enterprise, generates around 16 billion shillings annually, supported by irrigation schemes and value addition through factories such as Inspire Coffee Africa.
"In agriculture, under the Parish Development Model, the district has disbursed Shs46 billion across 129 SACCOs, serving nearly 40,000 households," said Fildeus Kizza.
"Coffee has become a key enterprise, with productivity increasing every season."
Former leaders attribute Ntungamo's progress to early planning, decentralization, and expanded administrative units.
From three counties in 1993, the district now has five constituencies, 19 sub-counties, and 12 town councils, enabling modern planning and localized development.
"The key drivers of Ntungamo's development have been well-established governance units and educational institutions, which have increased enrollment from 2 million students in 1993 to over 12 million at primary level," said Denis Singahakye, a former LC5 Chairperson.
"Roads that were once impassable have been opened, water access has improved, and employment has grown from 50 civil servants in a sub-county to over 5,000 across the district."
The district's road network has expanded from approximately 500 kilometres to over 2,054 kilometres, while water coverage has increased from 20 percent to nearly 77 percent.
Revenue performance has also improved significantly, with over 923 million shillings collected in the first half of this financial year, approaching the target of 947 million.
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"As a district, we are likely to exceed our local revenue target for the financial year," said Kizza, highlighting the impact of early procurement planning and enhanced supervision on revenue performance.
Looking ahead, Ntungamo aims to consolidate its status as a major economic hub. Plans are underway to establish pig iron production facilities, promoting mineral processing, industrial growth, and job creation.
Calls to split the district, currently home to 552,786 people, into three new districts--Kajara, Rushenyi, and Ruhaama--are also growing louder, with former leaders citing development and governance as key considerations.
"We have appealed to the president for the creation of three districts because obtaining district status brings development and strengthens governance," said Singahakye.
From its modest origins to its current trajectory, Ntungamo District stands as a testament to the impact of strategic planning, decentralization, and community-driven development in western Uganda.
